Has anyone read Philip Athans' "Watercourse Trilogy"? I noticed it the other day, and started reading the first book. If anyone else has read it, I'm curious for your opinions on it. It came out about 2006-07. First book is called "Whisper of Waves"

Yes, many people around here have read it, myself included. My opinion of the trilogy is not particularly favorable, however, I've given my opinion many times and I don't want to repeat everything I've said here, soooo...

If you want to read my comments (among others), check out the related threads in the Book Club forum. Or do a search.

"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."--Richard Greene (letter to Time)

I have not read it because I do not have a favorable view of the author. He largely botched up the novelization of Baldur's Gate. Maybe someday I will give him a second chance, but I have some many other authors that I know I like (both Realms and non-Realms) that I do not have the time to waste on this trilogy right now.

I have not read it because I do not have a favorable view of the author. He largely botched up the novelization of Baldur's Gate.

True--it's hard for me to forget about that. That being said, though, I tried not to let that color my view of the WT--I think those books stand or fall (IMO, fall) on their own merits, or lack thereof.

"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."--Richard Greene (letter to Time)

Well, Rino, we do agree on a great many things on these boards. But this ain't one of them. I to a degree enjoyed the series. It was kind of a minor, unassuming story that I enjoyed. Was it great? Nope. Was Baldur's Gate bad? Yup.

But I liked these books. I would give them a B/B-

When hinges creak in doorless chambers and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls, whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still, that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight.

Well, Rino, we do agree on a great many things on these boards. But this ain't one of them. I to a degree enjoyed the series.

Hey, that's no crime.

"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."--Richard Greene (letter to Time)

Well, Rino, we do agree on a great many things on these boards. But this ain't one of them. I to a degree enjoyed the series.

Hey, that's no crime.

True. Its not like I said I enjoyed the Last Mythal or sumthin'

When hinges creak in doorless chambers and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls, whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still, that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight.

"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."--Richard Greene (letter to Time)

Overall, I enjoyed it. However, I must say that it went significantly downhill after the first book.

"Even before he first walked the world as a mortal, Cyric had the will to resist the random call of Fate and make his own fortune. As his newborn soul stood before the goddesses, he cast a light upon Tymora's silver coin, blinding them to his presence. The deities never saw the coin fall, never settled their wager on Cyric's destiny. Thus was he born into the world without any fate save the one he himself could forge." -- from the Cyrinishad

Has anyone read Philip Athans' "Watercourse Trilogy"? I noticed it the other day, and started reading the first book. If anyone else has read it, I'm curious for your opinions on it. It came out about 2006-07. First book is called "Whisper of Waves"

How are you enjoying it? I finished them and thought they were worth the effort, but it is disappointing when a trilogy gets less interesting as it goes.

A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka

I think I'll sum it up by paraphrasing an old quote "As a writer, Philip Athans is a great editor" I've read the first book, and a third of the second, and so far, I'm not impressed. I'm going to finish the rest of the trilogy before I make my final judgement. I see a lot of what I consider character inconsistencies, especially with Ivar, whom I didn't even know was the main "hero" until halfway through the first book. As I heard before, he lives in destitution until someone who "matters" suddenly shows up and gives him something to do. I thought it wasn't realistic for him to live in abject squalor, never doing anything to help himself, never going out of his way to talk to people or do anything (outside of building) and then all of a sudden he has the stones to break into Phyrea's house. I was like....where did that come from? Probably the same place the architect learned all his fighting skills, and that Athans has yet to mention

quote:Originally posted by Starchaserva Probably the same place the architect learned all his fighting skills, and that Athans has yet to mention

I guess they offered self-defense classes at his architect's school.

"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."--Richard Greene (letter to Time)